CONGRATULATIONS TJ BARRON

HAWAIIAN HOT SHOT TJ BARRON SNATCHES VICTORY FROM MANLY’S SAM PAGE IN THE DYING SECONDS OF THE FINAL OF THE “BROTHERS NEILSEN PRO JUNIOR” PUTTING AN END TO PAGE’S DREAM RUN.

The 10th annual 5 star Brothers Neilsen Pro junior is one of Australia’s most prestigious events on the junior calendar, traditionally kicking off the Queensland junior series. This year boasting an unprecedented field of 196 competitors attracting the best junior surfers from around the World with representation from Brazil, USA, Hawaii, Reunion Islands, England, France, NZ, Japan, South Africa and Spain.

The flavor of the event seemed very much focused on a patriotic battle between countries with Australia fiercely fending off the World to gain a foothold for future supremacy of the waves, Australia taking the fight all the way through to the final.

This was apparent from the start as the ¼ finals hit the water featuring event favorite, International Adriano De Souza up against Australia’s first defender Sam Page where a 7-minute paddle battle ensued as both surfers jostled for position. De Souza at only 17 is rapidly earning a reputation as a master tactician forcing Page onto a junky wave then gaining priority, picking of the bigger set waves.

De Souza feverishly applied his aerial assault on the 1m wedging D-Bah peaks throwing in a series of wild reverse floaters and ally-oops which looked absolutely spectacular but uncharacteristically not completing the critical moves and with no legrope attached found himself swimming for his board on a couple of occasions loosing valuable surfing time.

Page pouncing on the opportunity played a safer approach marrying up a series of solid full rail shredding maneuvers to take out the heat putting a end to De Souza’s high scoring run and surfing on through to the finals.

“He’s the best surfer in the comp. It’s the best result for me, almost better than a win.” An ecstatic Page was quoted as saying just after the heat.

TJ Barron surfed a precarious battle in each of his heats making a habit of coming from behind staying true to his earlier comments “It ain’t over till the fat lady sings.”

With that as his catch cry TJ surfed his way to the finals knocking off a steady stream of Australian opponents including Lennox Heads Adam Melling, Gold Coasts aerial wiz kid Dion Ages and Avalon’s Tom Rudd.

The final was a display of spectacular high-speed surfing with the lead changing a number of times in the first 15 minutes. Sam page then stepping it up a notch jagging a set wave and absolutely destroying the face of the wave earning an 8.40 leaving TJ with the task of chasing a 7.93 in the remaining minutes of the final.

With a count down of 25 seconds TJ scored a set wave knowing this was a pivotal moment in his blossoming surfing career. Digging in deep he put everything into the wedging wall putting the crowd to their feet delivering a fatal blow to Sam Page’s dream run.

TJ now adds his name to the honors list beside such surfing icons as Joel Parkinson, Taj Burrows and Mick Fanning.

Semi final 1

Results:

1st Sam Page – red shirt.

2nd James Wood – yellow shirt.

Semi final 2

Results:

1st TJ Barron – red shirt.

2nd James Wood – yellow shirt.

Equal 3rd.

James Wood (Lennox NSW) $900 1460 pts

Jeremy Flores (Reunion Island) $900 1460 pts

Final1st TJ Barron (Oahu Hawaii) $2,800 2000 pts Yellow shirt

2nd Sam Page (Manly NSW) $1,400 1720 pts Red Shirt

Thanks to our good friends and presenting sponsor Globe and major sponsors Oakley & FCS. And also Surfing Queensland and ASP.